Zelaya named new head men's soccer coach

Garden City, KS-A former Broncbuster soccer player who helped lead the men's program to new heights is going back to his roots. 

Oscar Zelaya, who was part of the 2008 team that finished fourth at the National Tournament, was named the new head men's soccer coach at Garden City Community College on Tuesday.  

"As I step back onto familiar grounds, I am filled with gratitude and excitement to return to Garden City as the new head soccer coach," Zelaya said. "Having experienced the triumphs of our teams as a player, I am deeply committed to reigniting that spirit of excellence and leading our athletes to new heights." 

Zelaya returns to Garden City after a seven-year stint as the Head Coach at Dodge City Community College, where he compiled a record of 61-38-12, which included a 38-33-10 mark in conference play. He notched winning campaigns six times and was named the KJCCC West Coach of the Year in 2019. Two years later, Zelaya led the Conquistadors to their first home playoff game in seven years, and the following season, Dodge City was ranked in the NJCAA top 20. 

"This is a really cool story if you think about it," Director of Athletics, Mike Pilosof said in a statement. "We have a former student-athlete, who was a member of the one of the best soccer teams in school history, coming back to complete some unfinished business." 

During that illustrious 2008 campaign, the Broncbusters, which finished 17-2-3 overall, won the Region VI title after defeating second-ranked Barton County in a penalty-kick shootout. Then in the national tournament, Stephen Gorton's team beat Georgia Perimeter in the opening round before falling to Mercer College in the third-place match. They were ranked as high as No. 4 in the country, and Zelaya was named to the All-Region first team as a defender.  

"Together, let's revive the legacy of greatness and write a new chapter of success," Zelaya added.  

After graduating from Garden City, Zelaya spent two seasons at Rogers State at the NCAA Division-II level before embarking on a professional career, playing in the Southern Premier Soccer League in Oklahoma, the Premier Development League in Missouri, and the Semi-Pro Indoor League.  

Zelaya received his bachelor's degree in Sport Management from Rogers State and holds a diploma from the National Soccer Association of America. He and his wife, Leydi, have two children: Santiago and Chelsea.